The Bride of Glass (Glass Vault Book 2) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Epilogue

  The Bride of Glass

  Candace Robinson

  Copyright © 2017 by Candace Robinson

  Cover Design by Jenny Zemanek at Seedlings Design Studio

  Edited by Judy Roth

  This is a work of fiction. Names, character, places and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. This book may not be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Epilogue

  For Mom

  Thanks for showing me the way

  Prologue

  Perrie

  The electrical current beads and trickles off my hands in clacks and whips, popping with each thrust. I throw one long charge toward civilian after civilian without a thought, each person becoming glass. Their souls leave the glass body in an instant, and each time a sense of pleasure fills my stomach.

  There’s something inside knocking at my brain to come out, but I ignore it. All I want is to destroy and take, take, take.

  The others from the Glass Vault followed me until we all broke apart, floating in our own direction, spreading across the lands, owning what is to be ours.

  Except, I’m not alone. He’s right beside me—the one I’m endlessly drawn to, but I don’t know why. I can’t remember why. I want his heart to be mine, if he truly had one that beat. Instead, it sits in his chest without any real force. Vale. That’s his name, but something continuously beats at my head, wanting me to remember there’s more than that—there’s more to him.

  “Again,” Vale yells at me. So again, I let the white flash of light strike an entire row of brick houses, freezing all life force within the walls. Those bodies inside turn to glass, and their souls vanish to the Glass Vault.

  I had no thoughts before when we started this venture. Each individual that became a glass figure caused my insides to shout with glee. Now, I don’t know why those feelings existed, I’m a robot without thoughts, being commanded again and again and again.

  Stopping in place, I slowly turn my head to Vale. His blond hair is a beautiful mess standing on all ends from the electricity bouncing off me in hypnotic waves. Slowly, I shut off the friction until there isn’t a single spark.

  Vale’s hair gradually falls downward, but those green eyes penetrate mine with a focus showing no signs of mercy, and an anger beyond my worst nightmares. Stalking toward me, he grabs me by the throat, slamming my back against the nearest tree. I can barely breathe, yet his grip tightens around my throat. I see stars, but no matter how hard he squeezes, I won’t die.

  “Don’t stop until I tell you to. Do you hear me?”

  Warm spittle strikes my face, but I can’t tell him no. I don’t want to tell him no. I will never tell him no.

  “Continue!” he roars, releasing my neck while my head bobbles back and forth.

  Whatever was knocking against my brain earlier has now left, and I look one more time into Vale’s emerald eyes, giving him a wicked smile. That’s the only answer he needs, and his mouth collides with mine. I relish the taste of his kiss. I always do. Bliss runs through my veins, wanting more than a kiss, but my power crackles to the surface once more to do as he commands. I will continue.

  Chapter 1

  Perrie

  My eyelids fly open, and eyes of emerald meet mine. I can’t look away from those beautiful specks of green light. There’s an aching in my chest craving to release destruction everywhere, but those eyes tame me in place.

  He smiles a dangerous smile, and I try to open my mouth to speak, but I can’t. “Welcome to the new world, Bride. I am Vale, and you belong to me.”

  “Vale.” The word rolls across my tongue, and I like it.

  “Are you ready?” He pulls me up to a sitting position on some type of silver table, and I maneuver myself so my legs dangle over the metal edge.

  A white gown of silk flows to my ankles, and I can’t remember how I got here. I hold out my hands in front of me, and a natural spark pops. Watching my hands for a second, I let the stream radiate through my entire body, gathering the spark in my palms.

  Thrusting my hand forward, a bolt of electricity shoots out against the wall, shattering like glitter. I smile to myself with gratification when the bright light triggers a deafening pop.

  “I’m ready,” I say with determination, willing to do whatever he wants.

  Vale nods his head. He claps his hands loudly in front of his chest. One minute I’m on the table, and the next I’m standing somewhere else.

  I’m positioned in a box surrounded by objects mainly made of glass. Some form of machinery also made of glass is positioned directly above me. Bringing my head back down, I scan the room and see Vale standing in the middle of the large circular area.

  He’s wearing a white shirt of the same material as my dress except there are white ruffles centered down his chest, and blond curls fall right at his eyebrow. His face beams with malice, and I want to be a part of what he’s thinking about.

  Vale walks inhumanly fast to where I stand and reaches his hand out to me. “Lead us.” Pulling my stiff arm up, I take hold of his hand. The warmth of his fingertips has me feeling positively wicked.

  Stepping out of the box, I rigidly maneuver myself as Vale leads me to a hallway. Others are leaving their own boxes, but I keep my eyes only on him. We walk, and we walk, and we walk, until we reach a large door. I open it by a golden knob, stepping out into darkness that calls to my very heart.

  Turning my head backward to the others, my eyes make contact with a girl wearing a blue eyepatch over her left eye. Something in me is pulling toward her, and I accidentally discharge a small crackle of light in my palm, striking her and tethering her to something I can’t recollect.

  The moment is forgotten when I turn back around and see Vale farther up ahead, growing impatient.

  I walk in his direction to meet him while everyone stands farther back behind me. He speaks to the crowd. “This was your home.” He points back at the building. “Within the Glass Vault you have become immortal. Those you use your power on will beco
me glass, and their souls transported back here. We need as many as we can get for now, but I want them all. You will obey my rules or there will be many ways to be punished. We are going to take everyone. Follow her.” He points at me. “The Bride will lead us on our path to elimination, and then we will separate to finish.”

  “I will help lead,” a voice calls from the crowd. Turning around, I see a young woman with red hair wearing a blue dress.

  “Do not belittle me, Red, or you will have much to answer to,” Vale growls.

  The woman slowly walks toward me with her brown eyes boring into mine. “Do you remember me? My name is Fannie.” She grins.

  I have never seen her before. The electricity crackles in my palms once again, and I lift my hand to strike her directly in the face.

  Vale grabs the back of Fannie’s neck and squeezes it while her face contorts from her grin into pain. “I’m warning you. Speak out again to me or to her,” he pauses to look at me, “and I will end you in seconds. Do you understand?”

  Fannie’s lips are twisted in pain, but she remains quiet.

  “I said, do you?” He shakes her back and forth like a little doll.

  “Yes, Master,” she grunts out.

  Tossing her to the side, he turns his back on her. She stumbles but doesn’t fall to the ground. “Don’t forget what your father would do if something happens to me.” Fannie’s face is filled with hostility.

  Vale balls his hands into fists, flexing them apart, and then bringing them together in tight fists once more. He looks back at her and moves quicker than I have time to blink, slapping her across the face. A thunderous sound claps as her head is thrown to the side, but all she does is drag her face back forward, smiling at him.

  “Don’t mention my father again,” Vale grounds out.

  He turns to me, and his face of hatred becomes a face of delectation. “Begin.”

  Obeying, I walk onto a paved road full of trees. We all walk until I see the first civilian. I don’t think, I light up and throw my first bolt of electricity at the brown-headed male.

  He has no time to scream—his skin turns to glass, and his soul should now be at the Glass Vault for Vale to do with as he chooses. Dizziness takes hold of my body, but the satisfaction conquers it, and I want to do more.

  We walk down streets, cutting off electricity, phone lines, and everyone around turns to glass. As more people lose their lives, the more thrilled I become. I ache for it.

  People become more aware of what is happening and chaos ensues. Guns are fired, knives are thrown, gasoline and matches attempt to strike, but nothing from humanity can stop an immortal.

  After several days, the group separates in their own directions, and it’s only me, Vale, and Fannie. I want her to leave, so it’s only me and Vale. But she doesn’t.

  “Can we rest?” I ask, growing tired from lack of sleep. Vale holds a hand up to strike me across the cheek as he did with Fannie, but instead he lifts my chin as if he’s sorry about what he was about to do.

  “Try,” he commands.

  Holding my palms up in front of me, I don’t achieve anything more than a tiny flicker. “I can’t.” I await the strike I deserve as punishment, but he only nods. Fannie shoots me a look of hate because no slap occurred.

  We walk until we reach a house, and it looks like it was recently built—within the last year. Vale charges to the porch and with all his strength kicks the door open easily, breaking even the deadbolt.

  Screams travel from inside. When I follow Vale down the short hallway to a living room, there’s an old man and woman with gray hair hiding on the ground behind a couch.

  “Please leave us be,” the old man begs. He grips his wife’s wrinkled hand tightly, beads of perspiration drip in streams down his saggy skin, and I feel nothing. Lifting my hand, I manage to round up enough electricity, unleashing a bolt at the woman first to see the look of misery cross the man’s face. Then I strike him next, feeling fulfilled.

  Vale leaves the room to check for anyone on the street. Sitting on the couch, I sink into the cushions while the statues of glass hover behind. I avoid Fannie who hasn’t left the room but watches every movement I make with her eyes following.

  The blue skirts of her dress swish as she approaches and sits beside me. She props her elbow on the back of the couch while gazing at the side of my face. Ignoring her, I stare straight ahead at a table with framed pictures.

  “You know you are only his marionette. Eventually, he will cut your strings and toss you aside, and there will be a new one in your place he will latch new threads onto.”

  Why is she so worried about me? Would he really do that to me? Toss me aside for someone else?

  “You could only wish,” I say as I continue to stare straight ahead without blinking.

  In an instant, she has a knife biting into my throat and my head against the back of the couch. “You may be immortal, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have a little fun and peel off your skin bit by tiny bit. I’ll begin with this soft little nose of yours. Maybe slice it off?” She grabs my nose in between the fingers of her other hand, squeezing it roughly while twisting it to the right.

  I’m growing angrier by the second. My hands are at my knees, digging the nails into the skirt of my white dress. Then I push farther, until I feel the nails against my skin to calm myself down. “And what would Vale do if you did that?”

  Fannie tosses her head back, and her hair bobs as she laughs loud and hysterically. “Vale? What is the worst he can do? Toss me back in my cage or send me back to his father? His father would destroy him. He already has.”

  Her last words make no sense. Fannie releases my nose, but the knife continues to pinch at my throat. When I twist my neck toward her, the knife bites farther in. “What do you mean by that? How has his father destroyed him?”

  “Tut-tut-tut. Enough talk for now.” She pulls the knife back and puts it away somewhere in her dress. I reach my hand up to run it across my throat, and I’m surprised I don’t find blood.

  Quickly, I ball my hand up and throw a flash of electricity at her chest. Fannie flies off the couch and slams against the sheetrock. As she slides to the floor, she cackles with laughter. “Silly girl, you can’t turn immortals into glass, but it still hurts like fire to the skin.” Rubbing her chest, she stands with her spine pulled taut.

  “Good.” I give her a wide closed-lipped smile and show her another small current in my palm.

  “Believe what you want, but you truly are only temporary. So, have fun with him while it lasts, little puppet.” Walking back to the couch, she takes a seat, smiling at me like nothing happened. She runs one hand through her red curls and the other slides up and down the arm of the couch.

  The front door squeaks open, and my head whips to the side to find Vale. “The street is clear, so you do not have to go back out there tonight, but we will begin again in the morning as soon as you wake.” He only looks at me, ignoring Fannie completely, and a small amount of victory floats inside my chest.

  “Where should we sleep?” Fannie asks, insinuating she will be sleeping with Vale tonight.

  “You can choose wherever you wish to sleep.” Vale looks at Fannie and then at me. “Let us find somewhere upstairs.” He holds his hand out to me, and I grab it, tightening my fingers into his skin.

  “But,” Fannie cries and then stops when Vale shoots her a look of pure ice.

  “I am going to take a shower. Join me?” His face is full of want when he gazes at me, and I want him just as much.

  “Yes.” That’s all I say before he leads me down the hall. I look back at Fannie who is eyeing me with murder behind those brown eyes.

  Chapter 2

  Before—Josselyn Shaw

  Fuck this town, Josselyn thought as she left the gas station with a six-pack in hand. She was going to drown her sorrows away tonight alone in her apartment.

  Josselyn’s best friend Emma stood her up earlier even when she knew how much she needed her. Her ex-b
oyfriend broke up with her the night before because he said they were too different. Yeah, but not too different to have sex with her before he told her that.

  Screw him and screw Emma. She didn’t need anyone except herself and her beautiful pack of beer. Stepping in her car, Josselyn placed the six-pack on the passenger seat. The bottles were practically calling her name with their soft clink, so she reached to pull one out before starting the car.

  The engine hummed to life, and she used her keychain to pop the lid on the beer. She knew she shouldn’t be drinking, but she didn’t give one single care. Josselyn brought the tip to her mouth and took a swig, letting the coolness slide down her throat and drift to her stomach.

  Setting the beer in between her legs, she drove the car out of the parking lot. “Where to now, Josselyn?” she asked herself. “Time to get this party started,” she answered.

  Josselyn continued taking swigs from her beer as she reached Oak Street. She turned left and was practically finished with beer number one when she slammed hard on the brakes. There was a building. A rather big building she had never seen before.

  She shouldn’t be buzzing from her first beer already. At least she didn’t think she should be—drinking had never been her thing, until tonight.

  Reckless was her middle name that particular day, so she put the car in park and stepped out, bringing her almost full pack of beer with her. Running her eyes from left to right across the gray stones, her eyes zeroed in on a large wooden door.

  “Okay, that’s an enormous door,” she said aloud as she walked toward it. She halted when the tall door flew open.

  A blond guy younger than her stepped out and stopped, staring at her. “Need something?” He took a step toward her as he pulled the door shut behind him.

  Josselyn’s eyebrows lowered, and a crease formed in between her brows. “Um no? Has this place always been here?” She couldn’t remember and had only taken this route a couple of times but never paid attention. She would have remembered a large stone building though, right?